Thomas Jefferson Papers

III. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 15 July 1790

III. Thomas Jefferson to George Washington

Thursday July 15. 1790.

Sir

I have formed an opinion, quite satisfactory to myself, that the adjournments of Congress may be by law, as well as by resolution, without touching the constitution. I am now copying fair what I had written yesterday on the subject and will have the honor of laying it before you by ten aclock.—The address to the President contains a very full digest of all the arguments urged against the bill on the point of unconstitutionality on the floor of Congress. It was fully combated on that ground, in the committee of the whole, and on the third reading. The majority (a Southern one) overruled the objection, as a majority (a Northern one) had overruled the same objection the last session on the Susquehanna residence bill. So that two majorities, in two different sessions, and from different ends of the Union have overruled the objection, and may be fairly supposed to have declared the sense of the whole union. I shall not lose a moment in laying before you my thoughts on the subject. I have the honor to be with the most respectful esteem Sir Your most obedient & most humble servt.

Th: Jefferson

RC (DNA: RG 59, MLR); at foot of text: “The President of the United States”; signature cut away and supplied from PrC (DLC). FC (DNA: RG 59, SDC); at head of text: “Opinion of the Secretary of State on the constitutionality of the Residence Act.”

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